Tuesday, March 22, 2016

My Comments to the Torrance City Council--March 22, 2016

My name is Arthur Schaper long-time resident of Torrance CA,
and life-long citizen.

There are a number of topics which I wish to discuss with
the city council, but I will focus primarily on moving for the dismissal of
Patrick Furey Jr. from the traffic commission.

This commissioner, the son of the current mayor, has been
cited at least three times in print for campaign finance offenses.

Three times!

The first offense:

From the Daily Breeze:

The commission issued a warning letter to the Justice
Political Action Committee over automated telephone calls placed to Simi Valley
residents during a 2012 municipal election campaign.

The FPPC “found that he failed to include required language
stating that the calls were not authorized by a candidate or a committee
controlled by a candidate,” according to the letter.”

From the March 7th, 2016 Meeting

The second offense:

“Patrick Furey, as the councilman’s son is known, was fined
for his role in creating a slate mailer called the P.T.A. Voter Guide that
caused an uproar in the education community last fall because some believed it
was deceptive.”

The third offense, which now requires Patrick to pay $17,500
fine:

“Orchestrating the collusion between the PAC and Furey’s
campaigns were the mayor’s son and campaign consultant, Patrick Furey Jr., and
his business partner, Hasan Roberson, the FPPC investigation found.”

I now address my ongoing concerns and frustrations with the
majority of members of this council for not doing anything.

Granted, city commissioners serve at the pleasure of the
council, and can be removed for the same reasons.

Last April, Arthur Plourde was removed from the Torrance
Library Commission because he was pursuing a personal agenda, and was allegedly
abusing his role as commissioner to interfere in other city matters.

Now, you clearly have a sitting commissioner who has
violated campaign regulations, and yet he still remains on the commission?!

Mr. Goodrich speaks about the quality of the air and took
time to address the removal of the executive director from the California South
Coast Air quality Management District.
He sought concurrence for a letter to
the District in their search for a
replacement.

Councilwoman Ashcraft sought concurrence to have an agenda
item to remove Patrick Furey Jr. removed from the Traffic Commission. Yet no
one said anything.

Air quality matters, but so does integrity for our city
governance, and the latte deserves greater attention.

It is shameful and disheartening that only one person sought
action on this matter. All of you should have concurred with her request, and
mine.